LOS ANGELES - According to court documents, Michael Jackson's father is seeking an allowance from his son's estate to help cover expenses that exceed US$15,000 a month.

The request seeking an unspecified amount for Joe Jackson was filed by lawyer Brian Oxman, who said there was no apparent reason for the administrators of the estate to not seek an allowance for the 81-year-old Jackson family patriarch.

Michael Jackson's 2002 will, however, only called for money to be paid to his mother, Katherine, his three young children, and various charities.

A judge has approved more than US$26,000 in payments to Katherine Jackson each month, and a US$60,000 monthly payment for the care of the children.

- AP